O-Gloss

I am breaking the mold a little bit with this one...I actually don't know if this product is lovely or not. Two of my friends recommended Smashbox's liquid cheek stain O-Glow to me last Spring. It goes on clear and transforms to your natural blush. I really love the look...although immediately after applying it the hue is more intense than you would like, it gradually fades to a pretty pink flush. The idea behind this product seems logical to me because people blush naturally. Now that Smashbox has created O-Gloss, the logic behind the product is less clear. Our lips don't blush or change in color in the same manner our cheeks do, however, the product reacts with our chemistry to transform into a custom shade. I need more information...what custom shade? How does it differ between users? Have any of you tried this? Interestingly enough, I participated in an online marketing survey for O-Gloss prior to the product launch and my questions were the same. Apparently, my curiosity is best addressed by going out and buying the product, which leads me to the conclusion that their advertising is more effective than I give them credit for.

White Carrara

Keeping in theme with my penchant for white...I prefer white countertops with the grey veining as opposed to darker or rosy colors. This one above is my favorite. It is an entire slab called "white carrara", and I think it comes from Italy. My brother noticed that I always contrast darker colors with white, whereas he tends to pair darker colors with more darker colors.

West Elm 'Elliot' Sofa

West Elm just sent an email out today introducing this sofa. I love the tufting and velvet upholstery matched with the clean, modern lines.

Havana Blue

My friend Caryn recently got married in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The wedding was absolutely beautiful and the trip was fabulous overall. Caryn and her husband Curtis hosted an afterparty with champagne and desserts at a restaurant called Havana Blue. The decor and setting were fantastic, although I couldn't find any pictures of the impressive chandelier in the center of the room. Just looking at the picture makes me want to go back to the beach!

High Rise Jean Shorts

It's the beginning of February and I am already searching for the perfect pair of denim shorts for the summer. I think these Levi cut-offs from Urban hit the super-casual mark: the worn-in wash and the slightly higher rise give them just the right dose of 'Dazed and Confused'. Of course, you could probably find something similar at the thrift store for $2.

The Paris Apartment

The online boutique has some of the most beautiful furniture. Her mirrored and lucite collections are gorgeous!

Home Decor Fabric Inspriation Boards

I googled designer fabrics and the first site that came up was this great Canadian store with a wide selection of modestly priced fabrics (around $15 to $50 a yard- nothing compared to the prices you typically see in magazines). The URL is http://www.designerfabrics.ca/shop/scripts/default.asp.

I put together some fabric inspiration boards for home decorating and would like to share them with you and hear your thoughts. There are multiple fabrics on one board. Ultimately I would narrow the fabrics down to a selection of about four, and perhaps include more sheer or solid fabrics.

AKA New York Resort Dress

I LOVE THIS DRESS! Uh-huh. There you go.

Thakoon Spring 2008

This collection is so versatile, I feel like there is a little bit of something for everyone. The colors, prints and styles vary from sleek and tailored to flowing and vibrant. What's amazing to me is that I can actually appreciate the loveliness of every piece despite the extreme variety. Here are two of my favorites.

Cropped Blouses

Ok...I haven't found any pics online yet, but on a recent trip to San Francisco I found some perfect cropped blouses that would look so neo-70s chic paired with high-waist jeans. First, at a boutique called Dylan, I fell in love with a blue silk chiffon top from Corey Lynn Calter. Meanwhile, Two Skirts, a boutique on the same street, had a great indigo cropped blouse from Annelore. Both of these blouses had an even hem line, however a second take on the trend includes hems that are cropped in the front and longer in the back. H&M had a very 80s neon tribal print crop top made of knit jersey in this style. The silhouette was perfection but unfortunately the print was not. Pictured to the left is a Jill Sander top that doesn't quite hit the mark, but might give you a better idea of where I am going with this. I'll post better pictures if I find them.

A New Kind of Quilting

I have noticed something in the season's handbags that I love: panelled quilting on patent and matte leather. I first noticed it in the Isabella Fiore clutch that I posted in September. Now I am also seeing it in Chloe and MiuMiu handbags. No doubt there are more out there. Take a look at the pretty examples pictured above. From top to bottom: MiuMiu, Chloe and Isabella Fiore.

Loeffler Randall Blythe Bootie

These booties' sleek versatility makes them a personal favorite. The cut out on the top of the foot emphasizes their pump-like characteristics, yet their bootie-ness is still undeniable. Although available in black as well, I prefer the taupe. The color is especially perfect when offset by black tights. Buyer beware...the shop girl wearing these booties was secretly taking them off behind the counter in a surreptitious attempt to relieve her aching feet, but then again, what shop girl hasn't been in that position after 7 hours of standing?

Trina Turk Fitting Room

This photo has been featured in a number of decorating blogs. Apparently it is a fitting room in a Florida Trina Turk store. Isn't the wallpaper so great? I think I am finally starting to come to terms with my preferred color palette. LOTS of white contrasted with bold bright accents of blue, yellow, green and sometimes pink. Now picture those colors with dark wood, white and mirrored furniture. And for those of you who know how much I love purple, never fear, that color I am saving for the exterior of my dream house!

Chloe Sevigny and my ultimate groupie moment

So. Cool.

Overlapping Squares Headboard

When I was moving to New York, I had every intention of purchasing the Overlapping Squares headboard from West Elm. Since then, I have settled for my friend Katie's queen mattress on risers. Nevertheless, the headboard is still a favorite. It is an affordable option in the oh-so-trendy world of Moroccan themed, ornate wood cut-out furniture. Furthermore, investing in a headboard seems to be incredibly worthwhile. Afterall, you probably spend more time in your bed than you do in any other place. My color of choice is white, although it also comes in chocolate, which is the more popular option.